Vacuum cleaner



May 2, 1944- G. E. LOFGREN 2,348,082

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 18, 1942 Patented May 2, 1944 v UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE VACUUM CLEANER Gustar Einar Lofgren, Riverside, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1942, Serial No. 458,792

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-155) y This invention relates to cleaning tools, in partool I2 partly broken away to show the interior ticular to a cleaning tool embodying a suction thereof; nozzle and adapted for use with avacuum cleaner Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tool; of the type comprising a portable suction-sep- Fig. .4 isa sectional view taken on the line 4-4 arator means to which the tool is connected by ,5 of Fig. 2 with the top portion of the tool india hose. 1 cated in dot-dash lines; I

According to this invention, an improved clean- Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ing tool is provided which. though of general of Fig. 2; and utility, is especially suited for the cleaning of Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 fabrics. 10 0f Fig. 2.

It is an object of the invention to provide a Reference will now be made to Figures 2 tool of thistype that will simultaneously remove through 6 and particularly to Fig. 2. There are both surface litter and deeply imbedded dirt. tWO main SuCtiOn Openings I3 and I4, one at It is another object of the invention to provide either end of the nozzle face 33. Connecting such a tool having sufcient supporting area over l5 these Openings is a, narrow slot-shaped 'Opening the nozzle opening to prevent the fabric being g I5. The combined area oi these vopenings is so cleaned from being drawn deeply into the nozzle, related to the capacity of the suction-separator thus making it easier to move the nozzle over the unit I0 4that a substantial pressurek differential surface being moaned, (suction) exists between the atmosphere and the A further object of the invention is to provide space inside the nozzle even when all of the SUC- a nozzle that will produce a substantial amount tion openings I3.V I4,V and I5 are open. Thus, of Suction over the pari; of the nozzle opening cleaning will be effected over a surface held in that is covered by the surface being cleaned, even COrlta-CI; With n POIIJiOn 0f the nozzle face even though the remaining portions of the nozzle though the rest 0I the nozzle face is uncovered. opening are uncovered. Air entering the suction openings I3, I4, I5

Still another object of the invention is to propaSSeS through the interior chamber of the vide a tool that is suitable for cleaning in cornozzle and out through outlet I6 which is conners and other restricted spaces. To this end it neeted t0 the tube 3I forming the hand-grip end is an object of the invention to provide a too1 0f the hose II- For convenience 1n handling the that effects both deep pile Iand surface cleaning 30 aXiS 0f the Opening I3 must make an acute angle under the extreme ends of the 15001. n with theplane of the nozzle face 33. In order to A further object of the invention is to provide malte the Chamber 30 large enough to reduce air a passage connecting the inlet opening of a sucfeslstance I"0 e minimum Without making the tion nozzle of the above type with the outlet open- Chamber 100f l00 high, lille bottom Wall 34 is exing thereof that does not have appreciable tended parallel to the face 33 to a considerable Sistance losses, distance back of the nozzle openings I3, I4, and

Another object of the invention is to provide i5. TO Streamline the Chamber in Order t0 a cleaning tool that shall be quiet in'operation. reduce the nOSe produced by air OWing there- A stili further object of the invention is to through, there is an air guide comprising a wishprovide a cleaning tool of the above type that has 4o bone Shiped member 35 having a central n 36 asucient length perpendicular to the projection and lWO tell nS 37 and 38. These ns 'd Vide of the nozzle handle on the surface being cleaned the chamber 30 into Streamlined air passages conto facilitate rapid cleaning over a large area. peeling the Suction Openings I3, I4, and I5 with Further objects of the invention will become the Outlet I6 apparent asvthe description of one mode of at may enter the Suction opening one taining the objects of the invention proceeds. 0f tWO WayS It may penetrate deeply into the Referring to the drawing forming a part of this Surface being Cleaned pass Under the lip 26 formspecication, ing lie real' Wall 0f Opening I 5., and enter into Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the the nozzle Chamber 30 through the narrow slot improved cleaning tool I2 connected by a hose 50 I5 AS mentioned befOre. there is always a conto va suctiomseparator unit n) for producing siderable pressure diilerential between the chama flow of air into the tool and exhausting it to bel 3U and the amOSDh-ere S0 that UnleSS alarge the atmosphere after separating out the dirt series resistance opposes the yair it will pass under therein. the lip 25 with a high velocity and remove diri;

Fig.2isa front elvationalview of the cleaning deeply imbedded in the fabric being cleaned.,

Since the 4`air tpassingunder lip 26 vmust Vpara under a considerable extent of the bottom wall I4, the wall is grooved providing channels 32 through which air `may pass freely over the surface being cleaned. Ribs- 28 between the grooves space the surface being cleaned from the wall 34 and also provide a gliding surface forthe nozzle face.

Air kmay also enter opening I by .coming in through opening I1 in the front ofthe nozzle, over the top wall I3 of channel I9, down through passage 20, under lip 2| and thence into opening I5. Since lip 2| 'is spaced from the plane of the face `33 of the nozzle, the air passing under the lip does not penetrate Vdeeplyinto the-.surface being cleaned but instead, travels over the top of the surface. Since the pressure differential between pressure in'passage 20 which is :near atmospheric andl the pressure in suction opening I5 is nearly the same as the differential between the pressure under wall v34 lwhich is-nearlatmospheric and the `pressure in opening I5, the velocity under lip 2| will be higher than that under lip 26 because there is lessresistance to air flow over the .surface of the rug than through the-'pile thereof. The high velocity airy passingunder lip 2| and over the top of the surface being cleaned eects remova1kk of any surface litter that-'is not yremoved by the air passing underf'lip 26.

There vis a channel I9 'in the face 33 of the*- nozzle. This channel is in communication at itsends with suction openings I3 and I4. Air may enter the channel I9 in two differentways. First =of all, vair may pass from the atmosphere deep into vthe surface `being cleaned, under the lipv `25.'and thence intothe channel I9. This effects vremoval of deeply .imbedded dirt similar to the air passingf'underl lip .26. Air Imay also `enter ythrough opening .1.1, flow over rthe top Wall I8 of the 'channel' I9, down Ythrough passage 20,-

under lip.22 and into Achannel I9. Lip `22 is spaced from the surface being cleaned just as is lip 2| 'so that under lip 22 we havehigh'velocity air cleaning the top of the surface being cleaned, just as is.done`under lip 2|.

rI'he lips 12| and k221are the bottom surfaces of walls defining the passage 20 through the nozzle body. AThe extent of passage 20 lengthwise across the :nozzle face is much less than 'the extent of channel I9 and suction opening I5 so that there remain at .the ends o'f passage 2|l portions 23 and .-24' of the nozzle face serving as gliding and supporting surfaces.

It will thus be seen that when thenozzle face is flat againsta surfacefbeing cleaned, .the nozzle vin. effect comprises yan annular suction opening formed by channel I9 landsuction openings I3,

I4, and I5, having a central opening2|l through fthe core of the annularV suctionl opening `and rcomrnunicating'with the atmosphere. The an- .adhering surface litter not removed by the air flowing under the lip around the outer periphery of the annular suction opening.

Since the lips 2| and 22 do not extend to the ends of the nozzle face, they do not effect removal of tenacious surface litter along the entire length of the nozzle. Hence, .it is desirable to provide channels 21 and 26 cut across .the lip 25 near the ends of the nozzle to permit high velocity air to pass over the top of the surface being cleanedy to remove tenacious ysuriace litter at the ends as well as the center of the nozzle face. These grooves also provide in eiect nozzle openings in a plane at right angles to the plane ol' Lthe main nozzle face 33. These suction openings permit cleaning of a surface at right angles to the surface being cleaned vby face 33. This is veryuseful when corners 'are being cleaned and `also when it-isnecessary to clean in a narrow space'in 'which the nozzle cannot be ceptendwise. i 1 Y It will :newy be apparent why the nozzle'l will still'do an ecient cleaning job even though lonly a portion o f .its face is covered. Although'there isa relatively.; large area over thefnozzleface between the lips 25 and `26 leaving room for inserted exythe centralsopening 2li-:and the lips 2| and 22 forcleaning surfacelittenall of the air rmust pass v through they restricting orice comprising openings I3, Il, and I5.y 'I'hisreduces the air flow to a point well within the :capacity of the suctionseparator unitso that', it .maintains av substantial suction or pressure differential even though the entire nozzle face is exposed. Furthermore, since the widest suction openings I3 and I 4 are at the ends ofthe nozzie, nearly half of the restricting orifice will always be closed as long as one tend of the tool is covered. This aids in the cleaning of corners4 when only one end of the nozzlevcan be used at a time. It is to be noted that any air leaking into the covered` end of the nozzle face without goingunder a cleaning lip must pass throughV either channel I9 or suction openingIS. Since suction opening I5 is directly connected to the suction chamber 38, little air will flow transversely thereto. I'his leaves only channel I9 which. has a sufficiently small cross sectional areato permit a substantial'suction to be built up under the covered endl of the nozzle even though some air travels through channel Island into the space between' the suction opening on the end of the nozzle and the surface being cleaned. Such laterally flowing air in channel I9 also aids in the removal of surface litter. When the nozzle is used for area cleaning over acurved surface, the ends of the nozzle may not be in sealing engagement with the surface. Although this may reduce the cleaning effected over the lips 22 and 25 by reducing theA suction in channel I9, there will still be a substantial suction in-opening |5'causing deep dirt removal under lip 26 and removal of tenacious surface litter under lip 2 It shouldbe pointed out that all of the openings in the nozzle face 33 are rather small so that there are no large unsupported areas. 'I'his prevents the surface being cleaned from being drawn into the nozzle openings Where it might be so firmly held as to be torn by efforts to .free

it. Also, it makes it easier to move the nozzle over the surface if the material is not drawn up into the nozzle.

Although the nozzle described is of general utility, its characteristics suit it specially for cleaning lighter fabric materials such as curtains, draperies, and clothing,.and also for cleaning surfaces having vlarge areas which are curved and having many corners and narrow spaces such as upholstered chairs, mattresses and suitcases.

4tageou's. The nozzle is formed of two parts, anv

upper anda lower, which are placed together along' the line4,-4 lof Fig. 1,. The section shown in Fig. '4 is taken along the parting line and illustrates the bottom partY of the assembly. vThe cated at 40, 4I, '42, and 43.

While onlyone embodiment of my invention has been shown, it is obvious that many modications therein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the length of the nozzle might be increased lin order better to suitthe nozzle for cleaning rugs. Also, the angle of the axis of outlet I6 might be changed thereby reducing the backward extent of the bottom wall 34. /The width 'of thelip 25 might be increased at its ends toprovide additional gliding surfaces. The channel |9 has been shown as of fairlylarge width both toprovide sunicient room for I3 and I4 and also to permit fairly large particles to be vpicked up. kIt mightv be desirable in some cases to reduce the width of this channel. The spacing oflips 2| and 22 from the nozzle face determines fthe size of the most; limiting orifice in the path of leastresistance for airow into the nozzle and hence determines the suction` or pressure differential which the suctionseparator unit is vable 'to' maintain when the whole nozzle face is covered. By varying this spacing, the suction may thus be varied as desired land of course the velocity under all of the lips, both outside the annularl suction opening parts may be held together by four screws indil and inside, will vary as the suction is. changed.

It is lintended that these Letters Patent shall cover'all forms of the invention falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim: K

1. A suction cleaning tool comprising an elongated hollow nozzle body having an outlet adapted to be connected to a source of suction and an inlet in the face of the nozzle adapted to be presented to a. surface to be cleaned, said inlet comprising relatively'large channelsadjacent to the ends of the nomle and a long narrow passage between said channels. and means forming a shallow groove in said face communicating at opposite ends with saidl large channels and extending substantially parallel to said narrow passage.

2. A suction cleaning tool comprising a hollow nozzle body having an annularsuction opening adapted to be presented to a surface to be cleaned, inner and outer lips defining the inner and outer peripheral edges of the suction opening, wall means defining a passage from an opening in the top of the nozzle body into the core of the annular opening to provide communication from the atmosphere to the inner lip of the suction opening, gliding surfaces formed inside said annular suction opening to support the nozzle on a surface to be cleaned with the nozzle opening over said surface, said inner lip being spaced above said gliding surface just suiiicient distance to cause air entering the nozzle to pass over the 'tion-with an opening therein adapted to be con- 'nected tofa source ofsuction and a face portion the flow ofair into 4openings d top of a surface being cleaned, said outer lip `with an'y annular suction opening adapted to be presented to an article to be cleaned, said nozzle body 'and said suction opening being elongated in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said tubular portion, wall means defining a passage from an opening in the top of the nozzle body to ancpening in the center ofthe nozzle faceforming the core of the annular suction opening, inner -and outery lips defining the inner and outer -peripheral edges of thegsuction opening, and glider surfaces near the ends of the nozzle body located withinsaid annular. suction opening, the outer lip of said suction opening lying in the plane of theglider surfaces and the inner lip of said z 'suction openinglying in a plane spaced slightly L above. the plane ,ofy thel gliding surfaces. i

-. 4.` A suction cleaning tool comprising an elongated hollownozzle body having aytubular por- 'onl' than-opening therein adapted to be connected to asource of suction and a face portion withfan annular suction opening adapted to be presented to-an article to be cleaned, said nozzle body and said suction opening being elongated in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said tubular portion, wall means dening a passage from an opening in the top of the nozzle body to an opening in the centerof the nozzle'face forming the core of the annular suction opening,l inner and outer lips defining the inner and outer peripheral edges of the suction opei'ling,` and glider surfaces depending from said nozzle face adapted to support said nozzle over an article to be cleaned with the suction opening over the article, the outer lip vof said suction opening lying in the plane of the glider surfaces and-the inner lip of said suction opening lyinggin a planespaced slightly above the plane of the gliding surfaces, the inner and outer lipsv defining one side of the elongated suction opening .being very close together so as to dene a narrow slot, the inner the other-side -of the elongated suction opening being spaced sufficiently farther apart to allow for the .passage therethrough of particles of fairly large size; f

5. Ina suction nozzle, a hollow-bodyfform'ed with an elongated cleaning face, said face being formed with a suction opening comprising an elongated narrow slot terminating in larger passages near the ends of .the face, lips bounding the front and back kof said suction opening, a relatively large surface extending rearwardly from the. lip bounding the back of said opening and spaced above the plane of said lip, and parallel ribs depending from said surface to said plane and extending substantially at right angles to said lip.

6. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body formed with an elongated cleaning face, said face being formed with a suction openingcomprising an elongated narrow slot terminating in larger passages near the ends of the face, a relatively narrow lip bounding the rear of said slot, a relatively wide lip bounding the front of said slot, and means forming a shallow groove in said face communicating at opposite ends with said larger passages and separated from said slot by said relatively wide lip.

7. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body formed with an elongated cleaning face, said face being formed with a suction opening comprising an elongated narrow slot terminating in larger passages near the ends of the face, a relatively n arrow lip bounding the rear of said slot, a relatively row lip bounding the rear of said slot, a relatively wide lip bounding the front of said slot, means forming a shallow groove in said face communieating at opposite ends with said larger passages and separated from saidslot by said relatively wide lip,and means forming a passageway from the atmosphere terminating in the entral part of said wide lip, the portions of said wide lip which separate said passageway from said slot l0 and said groove extending downwardly a lesser distance than the remainder lof said wide lip.

GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN. 

